BAGHLAN, Afghanistan – Eight Afghan civilians were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in the vicinity of Shahabuddin village, Baghlan province, Jan. 16.
During a presence patrol, soldiers from Special Operations Task Force – East encountered the wreckage after the IED, estimated to be one to three anti-tank mines, detonated. All passengers were killed – two men, five women and one infant – during the explosion.
“With the amount of traffic on this road, it’s not likely that it was a pressure plate IED, but remotely detonated,” said the U.S. Special Forces officer on the scene. “It’s a travesty that insurgents are deliberately targeting civilians to delegitimize the local government.”
During the site clean-up, aiming blocks, used to mark where IEDs are buried, were discovered on the roof of a building, said the officer.
The passengers were traveling to an engagement party at the time of the explosion.